Customer Reviews

Principles of Dynamics (2nd Edition)

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4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(3)

 

 

Don Greenwood's "Principles of Dynamics" is definitely NOT one for the faint at heart. Reason why many frustrated readers/students balk so much at it, bash it so furiously.

What most readers -- especially students -- fail to realize is that the book, despite being in its second edition, retains a lot of the flavor of the first edition, written in the mid-sixties, using a language and references that most present-day computer-minded students really aren't prepared to appreciate...

Actually, even -- especially -- from the conceptual standpoint, it is a very difficult book to read. Greenwood's long "text-only" expounding of many topics throughout the book are hard to follow. One really requires some getting used to it. As a matter of fact, the extensive derivations -- which naive students complain so fiercely about -- are indispensable, since, without those, one can have little hope of grasping the full content of the discussions.

Unfortunately, regardless of its problem-solving approach, the book doesn't quite tell the reader "the whole story"... For instance, it does not teach how to address nonlinear dissipative effects via the Lagrange-equation formalism.

Nevertheless, the author's assumption (see the Preface) that "students using this text will have the academic maturity of first-year graduate students or of well-prepared undergraduate seniors" is a little too optimistic, at best. The book is written at a level which requires a great deal of abstract reasoning, which is by no means a characteristic of today's students, who are far more into computer stuff than into reasoning. Some previous, solid academic experience is needed before one can start to benefit from the book in all earnest.

Having taken several of Prof. Greenwood's courses, I still remember RATHER VIVIDLY how sore my first experience with the book was!... By and large, however, today, I must say, through being so precise, so accurately and scholarly written, it is proving one very valuable asset.

This is not the book that you search for if this is your first course in dynamics or even your first graduate course! . It was my text book in a dynamics grauate course, and I really found a hard time understanding the topics. I used to read other books searching for the idea of the topic and I really found it easier in other books.In my opinion,the only advantage of this book that it has wide range of problems (actually..most of them are very tough)which is suitable to study for a Ph.D exam!. HERE IS MY RECOMMENDATION....There is a new graduate level book called ANALYTICAL DYNAMICS by H. Baruh. I found Baruh's book the best and the most amazing book ever been & will be, in the history of dynamics! every single topic related to the world of dynamics has been introduced easily with very useful example(s). it also includes detailed advanced subjects with nice illustrations and examples...Do yourself a favor and go to Baruh's book..you will never forget my advice.

This text is targeted for a senior level undergraduate or first year graduate course in mechanics. I was unimpressed with the lack of detailed examples and the "cookbook" approach to teaching the principles of mechanics. Rather than teach the underlying paradigm for deriving and general analysis techniques, this book still takes the approach of many first year undergraduate texts and gives the readers formula's to memorize. It offered little insight regarding how to approach solving a typical problem in mechanics. The examples were somewhat contrived as were the homework problems. Few if any had any obvious relation to real world engineering problems. The few examples given were of little help in understanding how to solve the homework problems and I found my self referring to other text books to understand the principles being taught. It also does not address the use of Euler Parameters instead of Euler Angles in coordinate transformations.

Greenwood's Principles of Dynamics is a classic text used in mechanical and aeronautical engineering programs at universities all over the world. It provides clear descriptions and gives good examples of essential dynamics concepts. Overall, the book serves as both an excellent teaching text and professional reference. Weaker portions of the text include the motivation of and discussions on generalized coordinates, forces, and virtual work. Of the dynamics books available at the Senior/Master's level, this book ranks near the top. For deeper insight into dynamics and a more methodical approach to modeling and understanding the behavior of dynamic systems, look into some of Thomas Kane's publications. The complement of Kane's books and Greenwood give a direct and clear set of references that can be used in analyzing many dynamic systems.

People who criticize this book are people that have not yet learned dynamics. Though this book is not easy, neither is the subject matter. This book gives it straight. It covers certain subjects rarely found in other intermediate textbooks, such as the correct analysis of nonrelativistic systems with variable mass, and nonholonomic systems. The homework problems are perhaps the best intermediate-level collection ever assembled.

Good book. I purchased a used copy which was advertised as very good and the product i received holds true on the promise: almost new. Very fast delivery, I chose priority shipping and product was delivered in 2 days.

Now about the book:
I am a first year graduate student in mechanics and I find this book very good for referencing stuff in dynamics. Maybe not a book for undergrad students in dynamics as it may be difficult at places but if you have taken a preliminary undergrad course in dynamics and looking for a slightly advanced text this book is great. I prefer this over the way too verbose Goldstein people seem to like.

If you want a book that is full of every single dynamics formula ever discovered/derived in the free world and that gives virtually useless examples while tons of problems that have pretty much nothing do with the level of the text material, then cough up a "c" note and buy this book. The only audience I would recommed this text for is those who already know everything they need to know about dynamics and just want a reference source. The book is literally full of formulas and their derivations...but that's all! Greenwood regularly sidesteps the important things--like showing readers how to use his formulas (and more importantly, the concepts) to solve engineering problems. Reading this text, one would think that engineering is about plugging numbers into formulas. Many engineering books use this style, and yet as any engineer knows, our professions are far from that.

So if you are looking for a book that teaches dynamics and ways to solve dynamics engineering problems, and contains problems that are challenging yet at the level of the target audience this is definitely NOT the book to buy. Save your hundred dollars and invest it instead. You may find yourself hopelessly frustrated by Greenwood.

The sad fact is that since so few engineering professors seem to be able to teach good in the first place, it is no wonder that the books they write fail to exemplify good teaching methods.

The format and flow of the book is out-dated. Very hard to follow--because of the book...not the material.

The seller did what they had said. The content of the book is hard to understand because of the writing style.

This well respected book is average... The program I am studying renders some of the chapters useless... The book is vaugue and akward in some of the explanations.